Deputy Mayor for Planning calls in Beam Park site in South Dagenham

London’s Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, today ‘called in’ a major application to deliver nearly 3,000 new homes on the Beam Park site in South Dagenham.

Acting under delegated powers from the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor has intervened to take over the scheme for the former Ford Assembly Plant.

The plan includes the delivery of a whole new neighbourhood for the area, including 2,900 new homes – of which 50 per cent would be genuinely affordable – a new rail station, schools, community facilities, retail and open spaces. As many as 195 new jobs would be supported by the development.

The level of affordable housing was secured by the Mayor following negotiations between City Hall and the site’s developers.

The site straddles the border of two boroughs. Barking and Dagenham Council approved the development – however, Havering Council refused permission over concerns the development would harm the character of the local area due to the height of the buildings.

The potential development sits in the London Riverside Opportunity Area, which has been identified as having the capacity to accommodate at least 26,500 new homes and 16,000 new jobs.